Loom picker and joint structure therefor



Nov. 20, 1945. o. A. KOTTEMANN LOOM PICKER AND JOINT STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 25, 1945 time w l' k a w ke q eh onine-me Patented Nov. 20, 1945 LOOM PIGKE-R:AND JOINT-STRUCTURE 'zTHEREFOR .ApnlicationNovember 25, 1943, Serial No. 511,734

17 Qlain s. (Cl. 139159) Thisinvention. relates to devices =-for automatically looking or tensioning va picker on the stick ,0f.a.r10,0.m;-.and in a broadersense,-the invention .,,alsoahas reference to tool hoiding devices,

and .to;,.lock ing=devices such asimay be adapted toautomatically take .up slack. resulting. from vibration ,or other causes.

One, objectpf the invention is toprovide a-zdevice of thecharacter, described having improved Ineansiorsecuring a head ,orstool on a stick without requiring the use of screws. orowedges such es-weaken, split or crush-the wood.

:Anothencbject ,of the invention is thelprovision nof a device of ;thenature .set forth having improved-means for manually adjusting andtlock- .11% two elements in fixed relation to; each other.

A supplemental object of theinventionis the furnishing-ot adevice of the type mentioned .having;in 1proyed means conriprising v a: ,locldnememher which is nonrnally responsive to slack in, the a relation of: tvvo elements; to actuate nthetmeans for automatically increasing the tension 10f entW he e emen is .1 es exem l fi m Picker c i-i p Q I lie reto er th c i i u iste i le k e lul -i91 wa use hefieus pf sits :toueh- .l t fi us k Qnili' hafii n' :-.$uchfa-picke .-was

. at i erilws p dfl we ;necessamtosh ft the picker slightly, ;;,but it diflicult 1 ,to form or mai ain 1%; new scr ihpl tcl el le i en to th jibe-scre waielvay je dan ieds ip the-$ 9 :Femin smth gshu t e avoi cesi- -,dente t9hine;9 the 5 311 -EY LQheL1 iQa0 h 1' picker Y% :1%P l (;h9l it cleeth ua zed s seehed and-A became reuehen tende 3 Pa h arn; an l .d n i ev l a ne construction, the mass and sige-otthepicken rnust t ti 't e tie ltte ebd l devft sh ig .sm ze i m q li i r i ,dentaLcatching am or, strands L I have discovered that it istriot neces sarygo .theeix ve e hend i@Q e ithein enuq 1 9 ic er-mad P a;

it-9 3E? v z. I

: I; have iurtherudiscovered thatit is not necessany to shift the picker along its taperedostick for taking up slack, which. imovementhwould result in misalineme'nt" of the-nose of the-shuttle and the conoidaL picker recess adapted to fit the same, .but thattensioning may be secured .by a member; movable independently of the picker. To avoid loosening-of such member by vibration due to the tpoweriuLshuttle impacts, the, member-may be; securely held in: position, and if. spring urged,

the instantaneous slackproduced by successive impacts is constantly taken up by, the member in successive incrementsi until.- the picker. isuvirtually; frozen .onto thestick. I-have-perceived that this action; may be, aidedvvbyt apoint .of reference .afiorded by an initial. detachable anchoragetiof thepicker on the stickso-that the automatic tensionin can: proceed, without anvpossibility of a shift inthe positionrof the picker.

- It;is,;therefore anobject of theinventionto provide; a device; whichv affords these advantages, and pre erably eV inmhich; the. normalnlo s nins, act on in. a i inti reversed; v 'efi t t pro- 7 du e in ed ti htness- Another pbject-of the; invention; is, the proviimpl gocki i meansis sub- ,Angther h e tottheinvent on theprovisipn e;w. e ik qs r nsi actuat locking devi r in ly; carrie bit ur n u r imtmbers 0f td etentc z sen-b c e b t e eme t n asil l a ed herefrq Generally described the invention, according to.ii i'ii ieeef heee t roride ahead o picker -and means: ion securing the same on a rod or st ck qmp isme; 1 Pfi9- v i h F3 b :F fi Q anua l st t e th s me. i n callv accentuate the locking-acf-t qein-i l jhsel an s a en l y t cul rl n e pou W-PQWBYWI i tre cn e m c it w imth he jp mean me zbesubi e r i .-b i ;e h tw ee-i r iereb v nde en e o the be n seesaw-t edth e ieq an ;edveet e sp the ntio l eeqfn ne em e iih itseeqifiq iq r roceeds.

With thei a foresaid objects in viewt the invention .consists i n the pct/e1 combinations 2 and arjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showin in full size and in angular position a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof in vertical position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 4-4 and 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 3 so as to follow curve of the spring, a different position of a part being indicated in dotdash lines.

Fig. 7 is an angular view of a modification according to a section like that of Fig. 3.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful, devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referrin in detail to the drawing, I denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may comprise a member or support II such as a rod or stick, having thereon a head or loom picker I2. The latter may have an enlarged or impact portion I3 provided with a somewhat oval recess I4 as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 adapted to receive the point or nose of a shuttle. Also formed in the picker I2 is an opening I defined by the side walls I54: and the back wall ISI). This opening is rectangular in horizontal section and is of angular shape in longitudinal section to thereby snugly receive the tapered member II and the wedge element I 6. Transverse to the opening mentioned are provided tapered openings I1 in the walls I5a, these openings II communicatin with a slot I8 alined therewith. Accordingly, a plate spring I9 is insertable through an opening I! and along the slot I8 as clearly indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 6. In thus inserting the spring, the latter simultaneouslyenters an open recess or groove 20 in that side of the wedge I 6 which confronts the spring. The spring itself is clearly shown in Fig. 6, and is formed with an opening 20a of the same width as the opening I5 and alined therewith to receive the element II. Said opening is defined by an anchor portion 2I fitted in the slot I8, side arms 22 which lie within the openings I1, and an end portion 23 for engaging in the slot 20 of the wedge. The length of the spring I9 is such that with its Securing por tion 2I inserted to the full depth of the slot I 8, a clearance obtains between the opposite end of the sprin and the inner edge of the groove 20 The thickness of the spring may be such as to afford some clearance with the groove 20 to a1- ford a floating hinge-like engagement, but at the slot I8 the spring is held rigid so that it is adapted to be elastically deformed in an arcuate path,

for which the tapered openings I1 afford the spring. At the edge of the securing portion 2! adjacent to the opening I5, the spring I9 may have an anchor portion 24 projectin from the slot I8; this portion may consist of a series of teeth 25 adapted to bite into the element I I to prevent relative longitudinal slippage of the element while the wedge is actuated by the spring. Preferably, the element II may be provided with a series of preformed transverse recesses or grooves 26 properly spaced to selectively engage the anchorage 24.

The picker I2 may consist of any suitable material such as metal, plastic or fibrous compositions; desirably its mass is nearly equal to that of the conventional leather picker in order no. to upset the momentum factors in the loom; and in size it approximates that of the conventional picker to suit the clearances in the shuttle box. The various corners of the picker I2 are curved, all faces are perfectly smooth, and the securing means i housed within the picker to prevent accidental catching of a yarn or accumulation of lint which may cause entanglement of a yarn. Thus the picker I2 is a decided improvement over the ordinary leather picker which initially has or eventually develops various surface irregularities that all too often accidentally en'- gage and break a yarn or change the tension thereof. Where plastic is used, it should preferably have a tensile strength of at least 9000 or 10,000 pounds per square inch because the stress developed by wedge I6 is considerable. By the use of the locking device disclosed, the conventional screw that secures a picker to its stick is dispensed with. Because of the continuous pounding to which a picker is subjected by the shuttle, looseness frequently occurs. This necessitates that the conventional picker be replaced in order to avoid the slack produced, and the position of the screw may have to be shifted sli htly, but to an insufficient extent to form a new hole in the stick. This difficulty is aggravated by the fact that the screw hole weakens the stick at a point where its maximum strength should be maintained. According to the present invention, the picker is automatically tensioned onto the picker stick. In fact, the impact of the shuttle on the picker I2, which increases the pressure between the contacting faces of the picker and stick at I5d, results in movement of the wedge I6 to produce increments of wedging action untilthe picker is virtually frozen to the stick. This is rendered possible by the smooth sliding contact at the pres-- sure faces of the wedge, a circumstance which is afforded especially by making the picker of a rigid material, and the latter, in turn, must have a high tensile strength to prevent breakage of the arms I5a. The taper of the element II is unimportant and may be omitted.

In assembling, the wedge I6 is directly inserted into the opening I5, until its recess 20 is in alinement with the openings I7. Then the spring I9 is inserted through an opening I! and its securing portion 2I forced into the slot I8, while its portion 23 engages in the recess 20 of the wedge. Now the wedge cannot be removed, unles the spring is first removed. After the picker stick I I is inserted, the spring I9 cannot be removed. Thus the'several parts cooperate to hold each other in position.

In use, the operator may adjust the position of the picker on the stick by pressing upward with a finger or tool on the bottom of the wedge at Ilia while pressing the picker downward on the stick. Accordingly, the wedge moves upward in .thenpi jkfi 1andadefiectsrandzten ions; th shrine 19- ;Becau e orthe-floatinehinge en agemen ra .23, the wed elmove eleittca ds i k-"lil e Irre tive; to, the; s ick 1,3 3 .1.we11..as :upwar vWhen th appropriate; position. is-;re.a .hed;3the .operatonre- .wargily. at .16 1. Because .the impact of::the..shutt1e is along a horizontal plane.at.an..acute..;anglesto the: stick; 1 i, :there may; be .a; .tendencmtorfqrce the .picker upward. To guard: againstany such accidental .movement,1 the .an'chorage. air-24, 26 is provided, .-the, picker being initially. positioned. so that the portion 24 engages in a..selected:-gro0ve .26. "The engagement thusvobtained'.issufflcient to. prevent. shifting .of .thepicker along .its-astick,

thus. maintaining theprecise=alinement oflthe recess: .I 4 with :the shuttle. It: is -.ma intained by the pressure at the-,wedge v1 6.. andv is: releasedeby releasin the wedge. However, satisfactory-resultsmay be obtained by omittingthe anchorage at 24,116.

In F g. "7 is. shown a device .30 illustratinga -modification of thelinvention, which is :like that at 10, except-.- that. the -.tension. causedtby .-:the wedge is assumed bythe spring instead of by the walls a of.;.the. picker. :.More particularly; the

head or,.pic15er: 3 I cooperates. with the. wedge: 32 and, spring. .33 for. locking. engagement-,=with the element II. This. spring .33-..is different-in that its portion 3411s securedor-pinned to the picker as .by the provision of. a reinforced bead-35 atiits free edge, this head being fitted li e, correspondingly enlarged portion 36 of the S1017: 31. .-Accord- .ingly, .;the picker. 3| is different only in theprovision of the enlarged opening:36,;v although the rear wall 38 of the opening139 may-be omitted, as will. be..p rese'ntly apparent. .Theielementitz may be oiany suitableaformeandneed not-be wedge shaped. as shown; its: groove -.40-r.for.-1engagement with the portion 4|. of the sprin may .be at. an .outer. .face, so .that the.-e1ement:32 as well as the picker stick H is ree'eived in:- an opening of the spring like. thatrshownlat' 2011. The longitudinal anchorage "like. that. at 24,: 26 may also be. provided: as. indicated at142, 43. As: in

thedevice H), the spring 33 slopes-downwardly somewhat. similar .to 'thatof the device Ill but with important differences. It will -be appreciated that the wedging; actionis'slight and limited in range. according to the taper of thepicker stick itself. The pi'cker3l cannot be applied to or-removed from the-stick as readilyeas the picker 12; because the range of lateral movementof-the wedge-like element 32 is lim-ited'by the opening -in ..the ..spring'= 33. ":Some clearance for the stick In use .the device 3ll=willfunction in awmanner 4 65 leew rd tozdsfiec sthespr n but l ar nc s-l al mafia-while. arments a a ranta etqrh eathe rten iengdu .tothenedene a tresaassumed batheemstal ie-snrin dnsteadsp by plastic side walls of the picker, yet-the spring zm mtn st o ebuekleiundensuhstantiahload, .a d therlocaliaedss ress amt-may. produ e. some'yiel '...d te na e y.win .zth sd rice -:;3. ::oh :;wed in .aetio zbetwe mr. :element ;3 -.a .1d::the;wa 1 :3 ma tbe reliedzuno z wh clrr snlteoana att me by hmvid p -::sufii ent :plearanc r..-hetwe,enx.;th sprinezportion .4 hand thei nn nface: f: the; rooy 4.0;...s that. t asprinafl shal sbe' re ier d-.-.ot:ta sionandactnlsethesprin =1 ,pableof general anplicationasa holder fora-tool rorrheadeand may beemb diedinajhammer. .Th zinv ntionzmay also .lpe; employedas. a joint. in .mazchinery; furniture-.and other-arts; as'the head? 2 may-represent part-1.05 shame. membenandithe stick;4 li':may;.-represent.:: another .part or .frame -:member.; such use-being especially; advantageous where the structure or mechanism: involved is subject v.to-ashock. ;:.Still another possible. application is.:imthei.art-.ofetensioning devicesrsuchs as .boltsgand .nuts, has the element 1 I may. represent a atielrodsor. tension element, and theahead 3 12 :maye-take -,zthe -.p1ace1.;of a: holding pin .or.-.nut; if .so.-used;;the- .we dge element need-notiproject from the;- head, at el fin. but-,mamv beotherwise-manipulatedzforupward releasing-movement; as .by caus- ;ing;.-the 'upperend of. the wedge to. project from the-aheadortby -.inserting a releasing tool through amnpening. 1 .tmup-Wardlymove thew-edge; and

theyrteeth.atilhmay .beenlarged or deepened; to

suit, while the serration 25 may be omittedwith .:-the.- .part 1.2 4: forming; a single. straight or curved .tooth'lammayebe requiredtozfit thejshaperof the ':-.Within xthe scopeof :th'e claims various modifications may be .made. f'I-hus :the. spring I 9;.might be. secured torthe element: I I :this spring may-in someeases extendgthrough. an. opening in. element 1 Lsoz. that. the ppen-ings 'l I; may. .be closeda and 'slidable in sthe slot .18; by. suitable: clearance with the element 1 I, whereby theiengagementat 20; 23

-.-may have aizfixed hinge-dike: axis and:=neednot .provide' for; lateral movement between the-wedge l nd. spring. Th'ese l and .other changes-mayzbe made; butithe specificidevicei A ll, appears torepresent the idealidisclosure.

I aclaim:

1., A idevicefor-a loom comprisingathead havin sp01tiQnr provided.=.-with... an opening; for: re- .ceiYingi.a..stick-.;with said-portion. extending continuously around, thessti'ck, the headconsisting fif. rigidmaterial; means having; an opening for receiving. the stick, said-.means..having.itsopening substantially. alinedrwitlr. .that-.-onthei head, saiimeanshavingz a. spring portion. and an elegnentein engagement..-withnthe springportion. to ;=tensign::theehe.ad:.against-ithe stick, said spring portion.being connected toithehead and-movable .an ularlyrelative to. the? head-rand stick for urging; the; element, against the stick.

.Az;device; :.comprising.. a. securing means including a spring=haying-.- an openingfor receiv- -.in 1a; s.tik,;ahead-having; a;- first-portion provided with, an opening .to-receivetthe stick. and a; second portion-for receiving an impact-of; a shuttle; the fiaidppenings'sbeing:.alinedrwith each other, the spring being engaged with the second portion =so as to :lie; at. an. angle .to the. aX-isof said openings,

occurstwhen thewwedgi g element flz is pushed 17 saictzmeamihavingian:en aging portion adapted 'like engagement under the continuous to lie at a side of the openings opposite to that of said second portion, said engaging portion being adapted to engage the stick with a wedgepressure of the spring. 7

3. A device including a head, and means for securing the same to a'stick, said means including a strip spring having an opening for receiving said stick, said means'h'aving at one end a portion connected to the spring for movably bearing against an edge of the stick, the spring being connected at its other end to the head, the head having a'face adapted to bear on the opposite edge of the stick whereby the latter is clampingly engaged between the head and said portion, said portion "being movable to retracted position in which it releases the stick and to projected position in' which it engages the stick, and the spring being held by the head at such an angle to said portion as to urge the said portion to projected position for a'wedge-like engagement between said portion and the stick to tighten the head on the latter.

4. A device including a stick, means having an opening to receive the latter, said means having a portion having detachable toothed lateral engagement with the stick, said meansincluding a head adapted to be secured by said portion against movement longitudinally of the stick, and other means for smooth wedge-like engagement between the head and the stick to laterally clamp the head to the stick, the first mentioned means including a resilient element movable at least in part longitudinally of the stick for moving the said other means to render said portion operative. v

5. A device including a head member having a wall defining an opening, a stick member in said opening, actuator means including a wedge-like element in said opening, said wall having a lateral opening communicating with the first mentioned opening, and spring actuator means for said element, the latter having a groove and the head member having a groove, the spring means having opposite end portions engaged in the grooves, said grooves communicating at an end ,with the lateral opening.

6. A device including a head having an impact end, a first means adjacent to the impact end of the. head for detachably laterally engaging a head stick at different points therealong to prevent longitudinal movement of the head along the stick, and a second means spring pressed for detachable wedge-like engagement between the head and stick at the other end of the head to laterally clamp the head to the stick, the first means serving to prevent the head from slipping along the stick while the second means is in action, and the first means being detachable from the head only upon release of the second means.

7. A device including a loom picker having an opening whereby the picker is sleeved over a picker stick, and means for securing the picker to the stick comprising a plurality of elements, said opening being sufiiciently large to house one of the elements as well as the picker stick, said picker having a different opening for receiving the other element, whereby said means is substantially entirely housed within the picker to avoid projecting parts for accidentally catching a yarn, the element within the picker stick opening being actuable by the other element to clamp the picker to the stick.

8. A device including a head member, a supporting memberon which th'e head member is sleeved, a plate spring element having an opening to receive the supporting member, said element beingisecured to the head member at one side of the supporting member and having a portion to engage in a notch of the supporting member at said side, a wedge element, the head member having an opening to receive the wedge element to laterally bear on the opposite side of the supporting member, the spring element having a second portion at said opposite side engaging the wedge element is laterally as Well as longitudinally movable for disengagement of the members from each other.

: 10. Adevice according to claim 8 wherein the wedge element is received in the opening of the spring element so that the latter exerts tension for drawing the wedge element toward the first mentioned side, while moving the wedge element longitudinally.

11. A device including an impact head having an opening for receiving a supporting member, a spring having an opening to receive the supporting member, said spring being engaged with the head at one side of the opening, a wedge in the opening of the head at the opposite side, the wedge having a recess confronting the spring, the latter having a portion movably engaged in said recess, whereby the spring serves to actuate the wedge and to hold it in place.

12. A device including a head having an opening, a spring having an opening of the same width as the opening in the head, said openings being adapted to receive a supporting member for the head in said openings, a wedge in said opening, said spring being engaged at one end with said head to position the spring, the latter being engaged at its other end with the wedge, the wedge having an open recess confronting the spring and receiving a portion thereof to afford the said engagement, said head having openings transverse to the first mentioned openings and being in alinement with the recess in the wedge and with the point of engagement between the spring and the head whereby the spring can be inserted into place, with the spring being movable in the transverse openings to actuate the wedge for longitudinal movement.

1;. A device including a head having a first opening whereby the head is sleeved over a stick, and means for securing th head to the stick comprising a first element and a second element, said opening being sufiiciently large to slidably house the first element as well as the stick, said first element so cooperating with the stick and the opening in the head as to be adapted for wedging clamping engagement between the head and the stick, said head having a second opening for receiving the second element, whereby said means is substantially entirely housed within the head to avoid projecting parts, the second element being resilient and engaging the first element to clamp the head to the stick, said openings being in communication with each other,

and the first element having a groove communicating with the openings whereby the second element is operatively engaged with the first element and is assembled by insertion of the second element through the second opening into engagement with said groove.

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein the head is provided with a groove communicating with the openings so that the second element is engageable with the head in the groove thereof upon the said insertion of the second element.

15. A device including a head having an opening for a stick, and actuator means for locking the head on the stick, the actuator means including a first portionfixedly mounted on the head at one side of the opening, a second portion at the opposite side of the opening for clamping engagement with the stick, and a third spring portion intermediate of the first and second portions for actuating the second portion, the second portion cooperating with the head and with the third portion for angular movement in the general direction of the said opening to thus Produce a Wedging engagement with the stick.

16. A device including a head having an opening for a stick, and actuator means for locking the head on the stick, the actuator means comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion constituting a. plate spring having an opening registering with the first mentioned opening, the head having a groove at one side of its opening, the spring being secured in said groove at one end portion thereof, said end portion of the spring having a toothed edge portion projecting into the head opening, for engaging the stick at one side thereof, the second portion being so related to the head and stick as to be adapted for sliding wedging engagement therebetween, the second portion having movable engagement with the first portion, the second portion lying in the head opening and being actuated by the spring for clamping, wedge-like engagement with the stick.

17. A device including an elongated support, a head element having an enlargement portion at one side of the support, a wedging element at an opposite side of the support, a plate spring, means fixedly securing the spring at one end to the enlargement portion, the spring extending laterally from the enlargement portion and having an opening slidably receiving the support and the wedging element, the spring being biased to tend to move laterally in such relation to the elements as to cause movement of the wedging element for increasing the wedging relation between the latter and the support, means for movably interengaging the spring and the wedging element for operatively mounting the latter. 

